American Advanced Dental Associates, PLC Facial Trauma and Injuries Treatment
Our surgeons are trained, skilled and uniquely qualified to manage and treat facial trauma. We provide emergency room coverage for facial injuries.
Facial trauma can be caused by accidental falls, sports injuries and work related injuries. Injuries of the maxillofacial area impart a high degree of emotional, as well as physical trauma to patients. Goals in the treatment of facial injuries include rapid bone healing, a return of normal ocular, masticatory, and nasal function, restoration of speech, and an acceptable facial and dental esthetic result.
The types of facial injuries can range from injuries of teeth to extremely severe injuries of the skin and bones of the face. Maxillofacial injuries include:
-broken teeth
-soft tissue injuries (skin, tongue and gums)
-bony injuries (fractures)
-injuries to special regions (such as the eyes, facial nerves etc.).
Broken Teeth
Teeth can be damaged traumatically. In this case small pieces of tooth usually came out and the tooth inside tissues becomes naked and available for bacteria. If you break the front teeth it also causes cosmetic defects. Sometimes the tooth root fractures which can't be seen without proper dental check-up and in time you may loose such tooth.
That's why whenever you have your tooth chipped or cracked you should restore it with fillings, veneers or crowns, and implants are placed in the site of a lost tooth.
Soft Tissue Injuries
When soft tissue injuries such as lacerations occur on the face, they are repaired by "suturing". In addition to the obvious concern of providing a repair which yields the best cosmetic result possible, care is taken to inspect for and treat injuries to structures such as facial nerves.
Bone Injuries
Fractures of the bones of the face are treated in a manner similar to the fractures in other parts of the body. The specific form of treatment is determined by various factors such as the location and severity of the fracture and the age and general health of the patient.
Treatment of the fracture in this area includes wiring the jaws together. Some types of fractures of the jaw are best treated and stabilized by the surgical placement of small "plates and screws" at the involved site. This technique allows for healing and immobilization of the jaws.
Fractures can be treated by the supporting bone or in replanting teeth which have been displaced or "knocked out". Stabilizing of the tooth cab be performed by wiring or bonding teeth together with the other uninvolved teeth.
Injuries to the Teeth and Surrounding Dental Structures
Isolated injuries to teeth are quite frequent: knocked out teeth, root fracture, dislocated teeth, soft tissue injuries etc. It is obligatory to see the dentist after the trauma because sometimes the fracture can not be diagnosed without a proper examination with an x-ray taken and in future it may become impossible to save such and extraction will be necessary.
If a tooth is "knocked out" it should be placed in salt water or milk. Do not scrub it or clean it with soap – just use water. The sooner the tooth is re-inserted into the dental socket, the better for the survival of the tooth. The patient should see a dentist as soon as possible. Never attempt to "wipe the tooth off", since remnants of the ligament which hold the tooth in the jaw are attached and are vital to the success of replanting the tooth.
Other dental specialists may be called upon such as endodontists to perform root canal therapy, and/or restorative dentists to rebuild fractured teeth. If injured teeth cannot be saved or repaired, dental implants can be an option of choice to replace missing teeth.
Some dentoalveolar trauma cannot be anticipated or prevented but if you or your child is involved in sports where collisions can occur an athletic mouth guard should be used. The athletic mouth guard is clearly one of the most effective pieces of equipment available with documented effectiveness against dental trauma and concussion.
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